Linen Hall Library

Irish Booklore: A Preliminary Checklist of Works Containing Ulster Dialect 1700-1900Author(s): J. R. R. AdamsSource: The Linen Hall Review, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Winter, 1989), pp. 10-12Published by: Linen Hall LibraryStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20534099 .

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LETTERS?

Dear Sirs, I was interested to read your editorial with

its comments on the Belfast bookshop scene. Mullans' was indeed a major loss, not only as a bookshop but as a social

centre, particularly for railway enthusiasts

who enioyed many a chat with director Jim

Crozier.

The shop was, in a sense, the city centre

office of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, and all who knew Jim will be delighted to hear that he was made an Honorary Life Member of the Society for many services rendered.

I find it hard to accept the departure of Mullans', andthe resultantgap is not, I feel,

adequately filled by Waterstone's. The supermarket-size bookshop is new to the

Belfast reading public and many of us are

having difficulties in becoming acclimatized to the new approach.

Mullans' outlasted most other

traditional booksellers by many years, and

this is best illustrated if one reflects that, a generation ago, three bookshops were

visible from the Linen Hall. There were the APCK and Erskine Mayne's, both in Donegal! Square Westand Epworth House in Wellington Place. The Church of Ireland

shop seems to have disappeared, while

the Methodist one is in exile at University Road. Erskine Mayne's have long since

turned to more profitable operations, and

the only bookshop now (just about! visible from the Linen Hall is in the Arts Council Gallery.

The University Bookshop, while convenient to its principal source of

business, is isolated from the City Centre, as is Gardners.

Apart from the bookshop situation, I

believe that Belfast is seriously short of civilised newsagencies. The city centre

hastomake do, largely, with Easons,asthe aforementioned Gardiners and the

excellent Marshalls tend to suffer by virtue of their geographical positions.

I think that the current problems have

more to do with city centre rents than with

any other single factor. It is depressing that

none of the recent and forthcoming new

developments includes, or is to include, a

worthwhile bookshop and one is forced to conclude that the higher profits on other commodities will keep books, largely, out

of circulation in the more prestigious parts of the city centre.

For the meantime, at least, the reading

public will have to be content with its memories and, perhaps, relive them if

someone writes a history of Belfast

bookshops. I would certainly like to do that if I had the time, believing that the erstwhile

establishments mentioned, together with

others scattered around, would between

them make a fascinating story. Some years

ago, I was a joint author of a pictorial album

on Belfast trams, and the number of

traditional bookshops in the city at the time

of the demise of the trams makes a telling comparison with the present depressing

figure. Yours faithfully, RA Hunter

IRISH BOOKLORE

A preliminary checklist

of works containing Ulster dialect 1700-1900

by J.R.R. Adams

The compilation of this checklist coincides with a project at present being undertaken in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, to compile and publish a

dictionary of the Ulster tongue. This project gives added urgency to the task of

listing as many publications in the vernacular as possible, in order to add a full historical perspective.

For this reason, a number of works, particularly in the early period, are

included which could hardly be called work in Ulster dialect at all, such as the

earliest, Michelburne's Ireland Preserved, or John Gamble's A view of society and manners. Nevertheless these contain at least the odd dialect word, which

could provide an early reference. Similarly, readers may notice the absence of

William Carleton - this is accounted for by the reflection that he was not

necessarily trying to reproduce Ulster dialect, but writing a pan-Irish dialect for

metropolitan readers. Of course this is probably true for many of the other fiction authors listed, particularly towards the end of the century, when there was a

plethora of London-published novels set in Ulster; at the heel o' the hunt, as they say, no two such lists, compiled by different persons, would be identical.

The pattern of works published shows clear historical trends, which could

depend on a number of factors, from the economic basis of publishing, to the

political situation, to literary fashions. One fascinating sidelight surfaces - all the early 'sports', i.e. those literary works in the vernacular predating the

mainstream of such writing, come from the west of the province, not the east, as

one would expect. The poems in the Ulster miscellany of 1753 emanate from the

Laggan area of Donegal, for instance. Perhaps the Scots-speaking inhabitants of this area felt more remote than their Antrim and Down fellows, and therefore

more conscious of their linguistic heritage at this time. Possibly there existed a whole literature of broadsheet verse from the east which has now perished. The

post-1790 writing of vernacular poetry forms an almost continuous stream right through the nineteenth century, but peaks in the decades between 1810 and 1840, and especially in the 1810s. Thereafter it returns to a few volumes per decade. The 1880s and the 1890s, on the other hand, are the decades of fiction. From a dialect point of view this is in some ways less valuable, as those novels published in London would tend to a generalised pattern of speech.

The main era of self-conscious study of Ulster dialect belongs to the post 1860 period, with David Patterson's, The provincialisms of Belfast, 1890, being

followed immediately by Abraham Hume's splendid three issues of Poor Rabbin s ollminick for the town o Bilfawst (almost certainly as a humorous reaction to the rather humorous criticisms by Patterson of what he regarded as

'errors'). William Patterson's Glossary, 1880, however put local dialect studies

on a firm footing, and since then much work has been done, which should culminate in the forthcoming dictionary.

This is very much a work in progress, and readers are requested to add as

many titles as possible, and to comment on those included. Please note that first

editions only have been listed.

PAGE 10 Linen Hall Review

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MICHELBURNE, John. Ireland preserved: or, the siege of j

Londonderry. London, 1705. There were many subsequent editions. ;

It contains only a few dialect words.

'Northern Bard,A'. Elegy on the much lamented death of

Quarter-master Brice Blare; who died at Strabane. Dublin, 1734. \

Broadsheet. Reprinted in Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 2nd. Ser., !

Vol. 13,1907, pp. 160-1. !

The Ulster miscellany. [Belfast], 1753. 'Scotch poems'pp. 369- ;

386. These appear to originate in the Laggan area of Donegal. BURDY, Samuel. The life of Philip Skelton. Dublin, 1792.

THOMSON, Samuel. Poems, on different subjects, partly in the

Scottish dialect. Belfast, 1793. I THOMSON, Samuel. New poems, on a variety of different !

subjects. Belfast, 1799.

ORR, James. Poems, on various subjects. Belfast, 1804.

MACKEY, Alexander, ed. A collection of poems on various ;

subjects. Belfast, 1805.

Miscellaneous production on the occasion of the late election in

the county of Down. Belfast, 1805.

THOMSON, Samuel. Simple poems, Belfast, 1806.

MACKAY, Alexander, ed. A collection of poems, on various |

subjects. VoIume2. Belfast, 1810. j

BOYLE, Francis. Miscellaneous poems. Belfast, 1811.

COLHOUN, David. Poems on several occasions. Vol. 11.

Strabane, 1810. Vol. 2 Strabane, 1812.

McKENZIE, Andrew. Poems and songs, on different subjects. Belfast, 1810. i , PORTER, Hugh. Poetical attempts. Belfast, 1813.

GAMBLE, John. A view of society and manners, in the north of

Ireland, in the summerand autumn of 1812. London, 1813.

MACKAY, Alexander, ed. A collection of poems, on different

subjects. Volume 3. Belfast, 1813.

GAMBLE, John. Sarsfield. 3 vols. London, 1814. !

MASON, WilliamShaw,ed. Astatisticalaccount,orparochial j

surveyof Ireland. 3 vols. Dublin: JohnCumming(etc), 1814; 1816; !

1819.

DUFFY, Alexander. Poems on various subjects. Dungannon, 1817.

ORR, James. Posthumous works...with a sketch of his life.

Belfast, 1817.

DICKEY, John. Poems on various subjects. Belfast, i 819.

GAMBLE, John. Views of society and manners in the north of

Ireland, in a series of letters written in the year 1818. London, 1819.

McKINLEY, John. Poetic sketches, descriptive of the Giant's ;

Causeway, and the surrounding scenery: with some detached pieces. !

Belfast, 1819.

BEGGS, Thomas. Miscellaneous pieces in verse; with some

song. Belfast, 1819. ^ BEGGS, Thomas. Rathlin; a descriptive poem. Belfast, 1820. \

ATKINSON, A. Irelandexhibited to England. Vol. 1, London, \ 1823.

GAMBLE, John. Charlton: or, scenes in the north or Ireland. 3

vols. London, 1823.

DUGALL, George. The northern cottage, Book 1, and other

poems; written partly in the Dialect of the North of Ireland.

Londonderry, J 824.

McHENRY, James. O'Halloran: or the insurgent chief.

Philadelphia, 1824.2 vols.

McHENRY, James. The hearts of steel. Philadelphia, 1825.2 ! vols. !

STOTT, Thomas. The songs of Deardra, translated from the

Irish, with other poems. London, 1825. j

LEECH, Sarah. Poems on various subjects. Dublin, 1828. | BEGGS, Thomas. The memento. Belfast, 1828.

McSPARRAN, Archibald. An Irish legend; or, McDonnell, and ; the Norman De Borgos: a biographical tale. Belfast, 1829.

McMILLAN, George. Poems satirical and moral. Belfast, 1830.

[BRITTAINE, George.] Irishmen and Irishwomen. 2nd. ed.

Dublin, 1831.

CARSON, Joseph. Poems, odes, songs and satires. Newry, 1831. I

McWILLIAMS,Hugh. Poems and songs. Belfast, 1831.

McKENZIE, Andrew. The masonic chaplet, with a few other I

poems. Belfast, 1832.

BEGGS, Thomas. The minstrel's offering. Belfast, 1834.

BEGGS, Thomas. The second part of the minstrel's offering.

Belfast, [1836].

'McILWHAM, Thomas.' The Mcllwham papers: in two letters

from Thomas Mcll wham, weaver, to his friend, Mr James McNeight. Belfast, 1838.

[Meickle, James], Killinchy; or, the days of Livingston: a tale of

the Ulster Presbyterians. Belfast, 1839.

BLEAKLEY, William. Moral and religious poems. Belfast, 1840.

FALLOON, Mrs Garnett. Wild flowers from the Glens. London, 1840.

HARKIN, Hugh. The quarterclift: or, the adventures of Hudy

McGuiggen. Belfast, 1841.

HERBISON, David. The fate of McQuillan, and O'Neill's

daughter; with other poems, songs and notes. Belfast, 1841.

HUDDLESTON, Robert. A collection of poems and songs, on

rural subjects. Belfast, 1844.

HUDDLESTON, Robert. A collection of poems and songs, on

different subjects. Volume second. Belfast, 1846

BOYCE, John. ['Paul Peppergrass']. Shandy McGuire; or,

tricks upon travellers: being a story of the north of Ireland. New York, .

[1848]. '

HERBISON, David. Midnight musings; or, thoughts from the

loom. Belfast, 1848.

SAVAGE, MarmionW. My uncle the curate. London, 1849.

HERBISON, David. Woodland wanderings. Belfast, 1858.

FLECHER, Henry McD. ['A country lad of County Antrim'].

Rhymes and ravings, or freaks of fancy. Belfast, 1859.

HENDERSON, Henry. The true heir of Ballymore: passages from the history of a Belfast Ribbon lodge. Belfast, 1859.

PATTERSON, David. The provincialisms of Belfast and the

surrounding districts pointed out and corrected: to which is added an

essay on mutual improvement societies. Belfast, 1860.

HUME, Abraham 1'BillyMcCart']. PoorRabbin'sollminickfor

the town o' Bilfawst: containing varrious different things which

ivvery parson ought t'beacquentit with. 1861. Belfast, [1861].

HUME, Abraham ['Billy McCart']. PoorRabbin'sollminickfor

the towno1 Bilfawst... 1862. Belfast, [1862]. HUME, Abraham [ 'Billy McCart' ]. Poor Rabbin's ollminick for

the towno'Bilfawst... 1863. Belfast, [? 863].

BOYCE, John. Mary Lee: or, the yank in Ireland. New York, 1864.

HUME, Abraham. Miscellaneous essays. Belfast, [ 1864].

FLECHER, Henry McD. Poems, songs and ballads. Belfast

1866.

HERBISON, David. The snow-wreath. Belfast, 1869.

0'FLANAGAN,T. ['Samoth']. Ned McCool and his foster

brother. Londonderry, 1871.

HUME, Abraham. Origin and characteristics of the people in the

counties of Down and Antrim. Belfast, 1874.

H[AMILTON],W.H. Waifs of conversation. Belfast, 1876.

HERBISON, David. The Children of the year: with other poems and songs. Belfast, 1876.

HUME, Abraham. Remarks on the Irish dialect of the English

language. Liverpool, 1878.

CROMMELIN, May de la Cherois. Orange Lily. 2 vols.

London, 11879.

LYTTLE, Wesley Guard. (Humorous readings by Robin (i.e. Vol. 1, The adventures of Paddy McQuillan)). Bangor?,c. 1879.

CROMMELIN,May de laCherois. Black Abbey.London, 1880.

3 vols.

PATTERSON, William Hugh. A glossary of words in use in the

counties of Antrim and Down. London, 1880.

HERBISON. David. Select works. Belfast, [1883]. Reprints, with additional material.

CAMPBELL, Thomas. Lays from Lisnagarvey. Belfast, ?884.

LYTTLE, Wesley Guard. Robin's readings, [vol. 2], The

adventures of Robin Gordon. Belfast? c. 1885.

HART, William f'Floredice, W.H.'] Memories of a month

among the 'mere Irish\ London, 1881.

RIDDELL,MrsJ.H. Berna Boyle. London, 1884. 3 vols.

WHITE, Meggie. Gane afore, and other poems., Belfast, 1885.

LYTTLE, Wesley Guard. Humorous readings by'Robin'. Vol.

Winter 1989 PAGE 11

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3.[LifeinBallycuddy,Co.Down]. Belfast, [1866]. LYTTLE, Wesley Guard. Sons of the sod: a tale of County Down.

Bangor, 1886.

DAMANT, Mary. Peggy: a tale ofihe Irish Rebellion. London,

1887.

RIDDELL, Mrs. J. H. The nun's curse. London, 1887.

FITZPATRICK,T. ['Banna-Borka']. Jabez Murdick: poetaster

and'adjint'. A romance of South Down. Dublin. 1888.

HOUSTON, Maggie J. A bunch of shamrocks. London and

Belfast, 1888.

LYTTLE, Wesley Guard. Betsy Gray : or, the hearts of Down. A

tale of ninety-eight. Bangor? 1888.

HART, William. Derryreel: a collection of stories from North

west Donegal. London, 1889.

CANNING, Albert Stratford George. Heir and no heir. London,

1890.

LYTTLE, Wesley Guard. Daft Eddie: or. the smugglers of

Strangford Lough. Belfast? c. 1890.

BULLOCK, Shan F. The awkward squads. London, 1893.

MacMANUS,Seumas. Shuilers from heathy hills. Mountcharles,

1893.

B ULLOCK, Shan F. By Thrasna River the story of a townland.

London, [18951.

MacMANUS,Seumas. Theleadin' road to Donegal. London,

[18951. BULLOCK, Shan F. Ring o'rushes. London, 1896.

HAMILTON, M. Across an Ulster bog.. London, 1896.

JAMES, Humphrey. Paddy's woman, and other stones. London,

1896.

ALEXANDER. Cecil Frances. Poems. London. 1897. Contains

the well-known 'Balladof Stumpie's Brae'.

McILROY. Archibald. When lint was in the bell. Belfast, 1897.

MacMANUS, Seuma.s. Twas in dhroll Donegal. London, 1897.

McMORDIE. W. ['One who listens']. Our Ulster accent and

Ulster provincialisms. Belfast. 1897.

EDWARDS, R.W.K. The mermaid of lnish-Uig. London. 1898.

McILROY. Archibald. Theauldmeetin'-housegreen. Belfast,

1898.

MacMANUS.Seumas. The bend of the road. London, 1898.

MacMANUS,Seumas. The humours of Donegal. London, 18908.

MAYNE. Thomas E. The heart of the peat. Irish fireside and

wayside sketches. London & Belfast, c. 1898.

WHITE, Robert. ['Blayney.Owen,). The MacMahon: or, the

story of the Seven Johns. London, 1898.

BULLOCK, Shan. F. The Barrys. London, 1899.

CROMMELIN, May de laCherois.Divil-May-Care; alias Richard

Burke, sometime Adjutant of the Black Northerns. London, 1899,

GWYNN, Stephen. Highways and byways in Donegal and

Antrim. London, 1899.

MacMANUS,Seumas. Through the turf smoke. Toronto. 1899.

MacMANUS.Seumas. In chimney corners. New York, 1899.

McILROY, Archibald. By lone Craig Linnie Burn. London,

1900.

MacMANUS, Seumas. The bewitched fiddle and other Irish

tales. New York, 1900.

POOLER, C.K. Translations and other verses. London, 1900.

GIVEN, Patrick, GIVEN. Samuel Fee, and GIVEN, Thomas.

Poems from college and country.

PAGE 12 Linen Hall Review

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